20240216 It snowed last night so Sharyn and Phil were up early and excited that's there was fresh snow or powder as they call it on the Mountain so I dropped them off early and they were lucky enough to be the first ones at the Gondola.
Up they go for a great day on a mountain full of powder only to return very disappointed because the snow had turned to ice and it was too dangerous to play on.
I was just about to leave to drop the boys off at their ski school when I received a call from a not so happy Sharyn, apparently after it snowed last night, we also had a bit of rain that has turned the snow to ice making its much too dangerous to snow board. The boys we not happy but neither were Mum and Dad so we decided to do a day trip to check out the Snow Monkeys.
I have know idea how many tolls we passed through but they seemed endless and certainly not cheap.
Hakuba to Yamanouchi, Japanese toll roads are some of the most expensive in the world. As of 2022, the average price per kilometre was ¥24.6, for a standard single car.
We noticed many of these dead looking trees on our travels through Japan and found out they are apple trees. Aomori-made apples are most produced and cultivated in Japan and this has not changed for more than 100 years.
We finally arrived at the Shiga Kogen foothills along the Yokoyu River where lies Jigokudani, or Hell's Valley and the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs, now for the long walk to the top.
The family take the lead leaving Grandma lagging in the background, I refuse to go arse over.
Our walk to the top, about 1.6 km around winding ice covered, not to mention very slippery roads so it was a slow cautious walk to the top, well for me at least.
Hamish and Owen pause for a photo.
Owen hangs back to help Grandma just in case she slips over.
A much needed rest stop lined with much information of the area we are entering.
Korakukan, a historic inn established in 1864 and where Guests can share their outdoor hot spring bath with the monkeys.
Are we their yet, as we take a right turn to now climb a heap of stairs, my pet hate.
A Map of the surrounding area only it's all in Japanese.
A palm leaf covered in snow.
It was safer to walk in the mud than on the actually path.
Are We There Yet
No comments:
Post a Comment